Honestly, Horace, did you think I would not manage to ascertain the details before making a decision?
Now, to take your points in order, of course they are not adults. But they must be prepared - fully and realistically prepared - to be of service in the world as soon as they leave school. This school has been lax in far too many ways for far too long. Oh, I suppose Minerva (at least at the beginning) was a far better choice than that horrible Dumbledore. But her lack of self-control and discipline has tainted the students and on the staff over the years.
You know as well as I do that the school has fallen behind what it could be under more capable hands - hands I am glad to provide, no matter the amount of effort or toil required. It is not about me of course, but about what I can make of the school. Far too much requires my personal attention, because far too many of the staff here have made it clear that their values are not truly aligned in the best interests of the school.
You suggest that I leave matters of discipline to you and to Septima? Truly, Horace, I am surprised at you! And Antonin - goodness. He's been here less than a year, how can he possibly have the faintest idea of what's best for the school? It's not as if his previous work has given him much of an idea of how to be a real guide to more than his favoured few.
On that note, I find your advocacy for Miss Perks entirely unfathomable. I must know why it is you are so persistent in her service! After all, she's a halfblood. Even were she to do brilliantly on her OWLs or even her NEWTs, you know as well as I that there are almost no positions that would hire her that would require those skills. I cannot imagine why you - or a number of others - think it is remotely appropriate to encourage the poor dear things to expectations beyond their station. Bad blood will tell, you know. The more compassionate out there may not blame the things for their parentage, but they won't make space for them, either, when there are so many deserving others of better breeding and proven magical potential and stability.
Now, I am glad we have the holidays to gather ourselves for the last portion of the term. I'm sure that when we return, it will be much simpler to achieve our mutual goals. And of course, I am thinking most seriously about what changes in staffing I wish to propose to the Board once we reach the summer. I may have been persuaded to avoid other mid-year shifts unless they become entirely unnecessary, but I can only see before me the great work of shaping this castle into what it should be.
Re: Private message to Septima Vector and Horace Slughorn
Now, to take your points in order, of course they are not adults. But they must be prepared - fully and realistically prepared - to be of service in the world as soon as they leave school. This school has been lax in far too many ways for far too long. Oh, I suppose Minerva (at least at the beginning) was a far better choice than that horrible Dumbledore. But her lack of self-control and discipline has tainted the students and on the staff over the years.
You know as well as I do that the school has fallen behind what it could be under more capable hands - hands I am glad to provide, no matter the amount of effort or toil required. It is not about me of course, but about what I can make of the school. Far too much requires my personal attention, because far too many of the staff here have made it clear that their values are not truly aligned in the best interests of the school.
You suggest that I leave matters of discipline to you and to Septima? Truly, Horace, I am surprised at you! And Antonin - goodness. He's been here less than a year, how can he possibly have the faintest idea of what's best for the school? It's not as if his previous work has given him much of an idea of how to be a real guide to more than his favoured few.
On that note, I find your advocacy for Miss Perks entirely unfathomable. I must know why it is you are so persistent in her service! After all, she's a halfblood. Even were she to do brilliantly on her OWLs or even her NEWTs, you know as well as I that there are almost no positions that would hire her that would require those skills. I cannot imagine why you - or a number of others - think it is remotely appropriate to encourage the poor dear things to expectations beyond their station. Bad blood will tell, you know. The more compassionate out there may not blame the things for their parentage, but they won't make space for them, either, when there are so many deserving others of better breeding and proven magical potential and stability.
Now, I am glad we have the holidays to gather ourselves for the last portion of the term. I'm sure that when we return, it will be much simpler to achieve our mutual goals. And of course, I am thinking most seriously about what changes in staffing I wish to propose to the Board once we reach the summer. I may have been persuaded to avoid other mid-year shifts unless they become entirely unnecessary, but I can only see before me the great work of shaping this castle into what it should be.